Radioshack Fail

[Libertine Seguros]

So you think Xacobeo was invited because they will chase stages? Which team member will be leading out that sprint train?

I would have thought that a cycling fan would know that there's more to 'stage hunting' than sprinting. David Garçia, for example, won a stage of the 2008 Vuelta by getting into the right breaks, marking the right people, and launching a strong solo attack with 2km to go. Lars Boom stagehunted in last year's Vuelta brilliantly. Ryder Hesjedal too, when he won a mountain stage. Even Juanjó Cobo's win was stage hunting.

You must have me confused with another poster - I'm not sure who "you guys" are but I definitely thought Katusha belonged in the TDF. Footon, a bit less so.

But the point was, a lot of people are very upset about Radioshack's exclusion from the Vuelta, and they're the only ProTour who have been. But Katyusha were excluded from last year's Vuelta, and were the only ProTour team who were. Nobody got upset like this. Johan Bruyneel didn't jump in and say it was unfair on new sponsors and initiatives who weren't getting the response they deserved. Fans didn't flood to message boards to complain at Katyusha's exclusion. Katyusha took it on the chin, raced a couple of smaller events at the time, such as the Tour of Britain, with their youngsters, and then went about recruiting.

 

[sublimit]

Something that alot of you Radioshed fanboys are also forgetting is that for some teams it is not about the GC. It is about hunting stages, or getting the points or KOM jersey.

You hit the nail on the head. Who cares if Chris Horner come position 4. Or Kloeden finishes 3rd after hanging on for 3 weeks?

Its about the individual stages first and foremost and it ends with the best rider winning in the end. Radionissanshack dont get this as of yet so no surprise there.

 

[kurtinsc]

Missing 2 of the 3 GTs and having your season effectively curtailed by August is not a big deal?
I suppose from a certain US perspective, there could only be, one big deal.

I didn't mean it isn't a big deal for Radioshack.

It's just not a big deal for ME.

As I said, it would have been nice to see someone on RS other then Lance lead a GT... but them not being there isn't going to impact me much beyond that.

 

[hfer07]

the fact that the Shack wasn't invited to the Vuelta, means simply that JB has to "behave" accordingly & loose the "sacred cow" title from now on, since the Organizers are showing the same apathy to his team the same way he did years ago when he only "cared for the Tour" and any other race was insignificant....
it ain't Karma a b!tch Johhan?

 

[eleven]

I would have thought that a cycling fan would know that there's more to 'stage hunting' than sprinting.

I'm aware of that fact. I picked a jersey.

But the point was, a lot of people are very upset about Radioshack's exclusion from the Vuelta, and they're the only ProTour who have been. But Katyusha were excluded from last year's Vuelta, and were the only ProTour team who were. Nobody got upset like this.

Nobody got upset that Katusha was excluded?

Really?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm aware of that fact. I picked a jersey.


Nobody got upset that Katusha was excluded?

Really?

The level of outrage was nothing compared to this.

Its funny too that you claim no real care for Armstrong and are merely commenting on the sporting aspect. A quick check of your posting habits suggests you sure do post a lot about Armstrong to not really care all that much...

 

[eleven]

The level of outrage was nothing compared to this.

Well perhaps that's because the size of the PR firm working for Katusha was smaller?

Its funny too that you claim no real care for Armstrong and are merely commenting on the sporting aspect. A quick check of your posting habits suggests you sure do post a lot about Armstrong to not really care all that much...

Let me see if I have this right: Talking about Armstrong and posting in threads related to his team means you care about Armstrong? That would make you and a couple others here the world's most concerned citizens.

And I didn't say I don't care about him or his team - I said I'm not much of a fan of him or his team.

 

[Anonymous]

Well perhaps that's because the size of the PR firm working for Katusha was smaller?




Let me see if I have this right: Talking about Armstrong and posting in threads related to his team means you care about Armstrong? That would make you and a couple others here the world's most concerned citizens.

And I didn't say I don't care about him or his team - I said I'm not much of a fan of him or his team.

I never claimed not to care. I certainly care about seeing the caustic influence of The Hog and The Uniballer expelled from cycling. They have been nothing but bad for the whole of cycling, and the sooner they are gone, the better.

If the Hog believes he should be president of the UCI, and that happens, I will stop watching UCI sponsored races. I cannot think of a worse head for cycling.

As for you not being a "fan." Your posting suggests otherwise, but hey...

 

[eleven]

I never claimed not to care. I certainly care about seeing the caustic influence of The Hog and The Uniballer expelled from cycling. They have been nothing but bad for the whole of cycling, and the sooner they are gone, the better.

If the Hog believes he should be president of the UCI, and that happens, I will stop watching UCI sponsored races. I cannot think of a worse head for cycling.

As for you not being a "fan." Your posting suggests otherwise, but hey...

OK then. You're not exactly covering unchartered territory here, Thoughtforfood. Your opinion that Armstrong and Bruyneel are "nothing but bad for cycling" is hilarious. They didn't introduce doping to cycling and it will be around long after they are gone. I hope you throw darts at all those Indurain posters.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

I never claimed not to care. I certainly care about seeing the caustic influence of The Hog and The Uniballer expelled from cycling. They have been nothing but bad for the whole of cycling, and the sooner they are gone, the better.

If the Hog believes he should be president of the UCI, and that happens, I will stop watching UCI sponsored races. I cannot think of a worse head for cycling.
As for you not being a "fan." Your posting suggests otherwise, but hey...

this would be just an incredible and unbelievably damaging event.

Is there some news article claiming that could seriously happen? and would lance be in charge of the unannounced testing itself?

The phrase 'inmates running the asylum' would literally be an understatement if JB had any official role in anything other than as prison librarian.

 

[max_powers]

It's all about the Benjamins.

Controversy usually helps TV ratings.

By the time the Vuelta starts, RS/LA should have a nice chunk of it.

which in turn should increase Media interest worlwide. Saw lotta that last year with a simple LA comeback.

Landis has perhaps blown this thing up like BP in the gulf.




disclaimer: not a RS/JB or LA fan

 

[phlatties]

he had alot to say for being speechless. drop your egos RS.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's all about the Benjamins.

I'm afraid that not everybody shares that view.

The economic requirements are inevitably the bottom line, but there are other factors. The Vuelta has more to think about than TV ratings. It's not the Tour of California. This race has history and tradition to uphold. It has to sell the race to Spaniards in order to bring back the support level that allows them the best chance to sell the race to the world.

There's also short- and long-term. Bringing Radioshack in, and then everything kicks off while they're racing there will not put all eyes on the Vuelta. It will put all eyes on Lance, who won't even be there. That will have no benefit for the Vuelta, in fact it will be bad because the chances are either Radioshack will be forced to withdraw, damaging the race, or they will continue to compete under a cloud.

 

[Barrus]

It's all about the Benjamins.

Controversy usually helps TV ratings.

By the time the Vuelta starts, RS/LA should have a nice chunk of it.

which in turn should increase Media interest worlwide. Saw lotta that last year with a simple LA comeback.

Landis has perhaps blown this thing up like BP in the gulf.


disclaimer: not a RS/JB or LA fan

The main problem with this type of reasoning is the fact that such interest is fleeting, as most of the US interest seems to be depending on the presence of LA, this would likely drop of next year, as he is likely to retire again. So who would they have snubbed, as the other teams seem to be in it for the long haul and have long-term interests and many have long-standing histories. Should the vuelta forgo its European and primarily Spanish interests by snubbing one of those teams, for the quickly lost interest that the inclusion of RS would generate in the US? Last years increase in TV viewership, if I am not mistaken was solely in the US and while it is important to build a cycling culture over there, to do so on the back of one team and one person is not possible, mainly due to the fact that this will quickly disappear if the person or the team dissappears as is liekly to happen

 

[alberto.legstrong]

It's all about the Benjamins.

Controversy usually helps TV ratings.

That much is indisputable. As much as people like to say 'what rivalry?' about la vs ac, it's very real in the minds of those who pay SOME attention and that should be good for the tdf, assuming la makes it there.

The problem for a lot of the folks here in this forum is that they are generally going to be in the minority when up against the dilletantes. We have better arguments, they have bigger voice.

 

[richwagmn]

So after seeing the actual start list per the cyclingnews.com article (not what JB said on his blog) I don't blame the Vuelta at all. What an insult to the organizers. RS clearly wasn't racing to win, just get some face time for their sponsors. Jani and Horner was the best you could do?

Well done Vuelta.

 

[Anonymous]

OK then. You're not exactly covering unchartered territory here, Thoughtforfood. Your opinion that Armstrong and Bruyneel are "nothing but bad for cycling" is hilarious. They didn't introduce doping to cycling and it will be around long after they are gone. I hope you throw darts at all those Indurain posters.

Have you lived on a deserted island without contact with media for years? I am not just talking about doping.

Man, you sure do defend them to not be a fan or anything...

 

[Anonymous]

this would be just an incredible and unbelievably damaging event.

Is there some news article claiming that could seriously happen? and would lance be in charge of the unannounced testing itself?

The phrase 'inmates running the asylum' would literally be an understatement if JB had any official role in anything other than as prison librarian.

I am gleaning it from The Hog's statement yesterday that he is going on a mission to put himself in a place to make sure things like this don't happen. Apart from being the blovations of self important taintstain, the statement speaks of a sense that he is some savior. I think the guy has some serious personal issues.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Have you lived on a deserted island without contact with media for years? I am not just talking about doping.

Man, you sure do defend them to not be a fan or anything...

I think the sort of disingenuousness from the poster you responded a) is patently obvious and therefore b) undercuts their credibility before they even get out of the gate.

Why bother to argue with someone who you already know is dishonest?

 

[Anonymous]

I think the sort of disingenuousness from the poster you responded a) is patently obvious and therefore b) undercuts their credibility before they even get out of the gate.

Why bother to argue with someone who you already know is dishonest?

I am starting law school in two months. Arguing with dishonest people is part of the job description. Just practicing.

 

[Oldman]

I'm afraid that not everybody shares that view.

The economic requirements are inevitably the bottom line, but there are other factors. The Vuelta has more to think about than TV ratings. It's not the Tour of California. This race has history and tradition to uphold. It has to sell the race to Spaniards in order to bring back the support level that allows them the best chance to sell the race to the world.

There's also short- and long-term. Bringing Radioshack in, and then everything kicks off while they're racing there will not put all eyes on the Vuelta. It will put all eyes on Lance, who won't even be there. That will have no benefit for the Vuelta, in fact it will be bad because the chances are either Radioshack will be forced to withdraw, damaging the race, or they will continue to compete under a cloud.

You'd hope this and the relative lower quality of RS team proposed was the basis for the decision. Cynics among us (me) think RS will muscle in now that they've started making noise. I don't know if they can stop themselves now that the main RS/LA perogative may be to continue to appear relevant. There's some desperation in the air around RS and the promoters have been bullied by LA in the past. Maybe it's payback time.

 

[Barrus]

I am starting law school in two months. Arguing with dishonest people is part of the job description. Just practicing.

Hey, don't do that, don't put us lawyers (or law school students, as I am and you'll become) in the same group as them, that's just mean

 

[Publicus]

I am starting law school in two months. Arguing with dishonest people is part of the job description. Just practicing.

Not always. What type of law are you interested in practicing?

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Maybe they could apply for entry into the Tour of Utah. Afterall, who needs to race ****ty Euro races, like the Giro and Vuelta, when there is Utah, Missouri and California to ride.

 

[Weapons of @ss Destruction]

I am gleaning it from The Hog's statement yesterday that he is going on a mission to put himself in a place to make sure things like this don't happen. Apart from being the blovations of self important taintstain, the statement speaks of a sense that he is some savior. I think the guy has some serious personal issues.

Agreed - just a little bit of a "God complex" going on there!